Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability were not found to be related to service or any in-service injury. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his active duty service and have denied all of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spondylosis, C4-5, status post diskectomy with fusion. Service connection was denied for a left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination reports and additional development is required.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder and psychiatric disorder were denied as new and material evidence was submitted but the conditions are not presumed to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's claim for helicobacter pylori infection is granted, while his duodenal ulcer rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for polyps in the colon, nose and throat were denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including associated neurological manifestations, has not resulted in an impairment warranting a rating higher than the currently assigned 20 percent.

The Veteran's cervical cancer advanced to stage 1B and required a radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy due to the delay in diagnosis and treatment by VA medical staff. The Board found that this additional disability was caused by error in judgment on the part of VA.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The Board has determined that additional medical records and an examination are needed to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Board found that the appellant's additional disabilities, including cervical spine radiculopathy and psychiatric disorders, were not caused by VA carelessness or negligence. The surgeries performed did not result in these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized by chronic strain and degenerative changes, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has granted a separate rating of 30 percent for radiculopathy of the left arm.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in the record and specific questions regarding the nature and likely etiology of the claimed cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right elbow disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of anatomical loss or use of both hands, blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or deep partial thickness burns, full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury.

The Board is remanding the case to allow for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims are being reopened due to new evidence provided.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, neck disability, and right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or within the first post-service year, and concluded that any current neck, low back, or right shoulder conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for chiari malformation, increases in ratings for psychiatric disability and radiculopathy conditions, as well as increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder tendonitis, and cervicogenic headaches. The case is being remanded to allow the Veteran to schedule a hearing and for issuance of an SOC regarding the rating for cervicogenic headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be processed in accordance with established appellate practices.